Crum unit mountable and dismountable in consumable unit of image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus using the same

ABSTRACT

A CRUM unit which is mountable/dismountable on an image forming apparatus is disclosed. The CRUM unit includes a power extracting circuit configured to, when a clock signal is received from an image forming apparatus, extract power from a high value of the clock signal and store in a capacitive element and a controller configured to operate using the extracted power, wherein the clock signal has a first pulse width in a data section where a data signal is received and transmitted, and has a second pulse width which is different from the first pulse width in an pause section where a data signal is not received.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the exemplary embodiments relate to a Customer ReplaceableUnit Monitor (CRUM) unit mountable and dismountable in a consumable unitof an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus using thesame, and more particularly, to a CRUM unit which extracts power from aclock signal and an image forming apparatus using the same.

BACKGROUND ART

With the development of electronic technology, various types ofelectronic products have been developed. In particular, as computers areused widely, the distribution rate of computer peripheral devices hasalso been increasing. The computer peripheral devices refer to deviceswhich improve usability of computers, and include such image formingapparatuses as a printer, a scanner, a copier, an MFP, etc.

The image forming apparatuses use an ink or a toner to print an image ona paper. An ink or a toner is used every time an image forming job isperformed and used up if it is used for more than a predetermined time.In this case, a unit which stores the ink or the toner should bereplaced. As such, a part or an element which is replaced in the processof using an image forming apparatus is referred to as a consumable unitor a replaceable unit. For convenience of explanation, it will bereferred to as a consumable unit in this specification.

The consumable unit includes not only a unit which should be replacedwhen it is used up, such as an ink or a toner, but also a unit whichshould be replaced after a predetermined period of time since itsproperties change as time goes by and thus, high printing quality cannotbe expected. That is, the consumable unit may also include such parts asa color developer and an intermediate transfer belt. Such consumableunits should be replaced regularly at an appropriate replacement time.

The replacement time may be determined using a use condition index. Theuser condition index represents the degree of use of an image formingapparatus, and may be the number of papers which are printed and outputfrom an image forming apparatus, the number of dots forming an image,etc. An image forming apparatus may count the number of papers or dotsto determine the replacement time of each consumable unit.

Recently, in order to allow a user to determine the replacement time ofeach unit accurately, a CRUM unit may be mounted or dismounted in eachconsumable unit.

If a consumable unit is mounted on an image forming apparatus, a CRUMunit and the image forming apparatus are able to communicate with eachother through each terminal. The CRUM unit includes a power terminal toreceive power provided from the image forming apparatus. Accordingly,the power provided from the image forming apparatus is transmitted tothe power terminal, and the CRUM unit may operate by receiving the powerfrom the power terminal.

However, considering the structural features, the presence of a powerterminal to provide power may increase the number of interfaces of theCRUM unit. The increasing number of terminals or interfaces alsoincreases the size of the CRUM unit, influencing the costs of the CRUMunit.

In addition, as the power is supplied even during a pause in operation,when data is not received or transmitted through the power terminal, thepower consumption of the image forming apparatus increases. In order toovercome the above disadvantages, it has been suggested to remove thepower terminal and use only two terminals which combine data with aclock. However, unlike the case where data and clock are separatelyembodied, an interface circuit of a main board needs to be constructedusing an analog method, and therefore, there are drawbacks ofcomplicated circuit map and limitation of speed, or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to address the abovementioneddisadvantages.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus andmethod as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of theinvention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and thedescription which follows.

An aspect of the exemplary embodiments relates to a CRUM unit which isconfigured to extract power from a clock signal which is received froman image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus using thesame.

Solution to Problem

According to an exemplary embodiment, the CRUM unit includes a powerextracting circuit configured to, when a clock signal is received froman image forming apparatus, extract power from a high value of the clocksignal and store the power in a capacitive element; and a controllerconfigured to operate using the extracted power, wherein the clocksignal has a first pulse width in a data section where a data signal isreceived and transmitted, and has a second pulse width which isdifferent from the first pulse width in an pause section where a datasignal is not received.

Reference is made to a power extracting circuit, which will beunderstood to refer also to a charge extracting circuit, for supply ofcharge to the capacitive element, to store the charge or extractedcharge in the capacitive element.

In this case, the first pulse width of the clock signal may be greaterthan the second pulse width.

The clock signal may be characterized by that a high value and a lowvalue repeatedly alternate in the data section with a first cycle or thehigh value and the low value repeatedly alternate in the pause sectionwith a second cycle which is different from the first cycle.

The first cycle may be greater than the second cycle.

The controller may receive and transmit a data signal from the imageforming apparatus according to the clock signal and manage a memory.

The controller, when it is determined that the pause section is changedto the data section based on the clock signal, may transmit/receive thedata signal in the data section.

The controller, when a high value and a low value of the clock signalrepeatedly alternate in the pause section and a section where one of thehigh value and the low value is maintained exceed a predetermined afirst time, may determine that the data section is changed to the datasection, and when a high value and a low value of the clock signalrepeatedly alternate in the data section and a section where one of thehigh value and the low value is maintained is smaller than the firsttime, may determine that the data section is changed to the pausesection.

The controller, when a high value and a low value of the clock signalrepeatedly alternate in the pause section and a section where a lowvalue of the clock signal is maintained exceeds a predetermined firsttime, may determine that the time when the section exceeds the firsttime as a time when reception/transmission of the data signal starts,and when a high value and a low value of the clock signal repeatedlyalternate in the data section or the pause section and a section where ahigh value of the clock signal is maintained exceeds a predeterminedsecond time, is operable to determine that the time when the sectionexceeds the second time as a time when reception of the data signalends.

The memory and the controller may consist of one integrated chip, IC.

The power extracting circuit may include a switching element configuredto pass a clock signal having the high value from among the receivedclock signals, and a capacitive element configured to be recharged bythe clock signal which is passed from the switching element.

The switching element may be at least one of a diode and a transistor.

The CRUM unit may further include a data terminal configured totransmit/receive the data signal which is divided to a data section anda pause section, when the CRUM unit communicates with a main body of theimage forming apparatus, a clock terminal configured to receive theclock signal from the main body, and a ground terminal configured to beconnected to a ground terminal of the main body of the image formingapparatus.

The CRUM may further include a power terminal which is connected to apower terminal of the main body of the image forming apparatus, whereinthe power terminal of the CRUM unit may maintain an inactive state.

The clock signal may have a third width which is different from thefirst pulse width in an idle section where a data signal is not receivedand transmitted.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a CRUM unit includes a dataterminal configured to transmit/receive the data signal which is dividedto a data section and an pause section, when the CRUM unit communicateswith a main body of the image forming apparatus, a clock terminalconfigured to receive the clock signal for determining whether the datasignal is received or transmitted from the main body, and a groundterminal configured to be connected to a ground terminal of the mainbody of the image forming apparatus, a power extracting circuitconfigured to extract power from a high value of the clock signal andstore in a capacitive element, and a controller configured to beoperable using the extracted power, wherein the clock signal has a firstpulse width in a data section where a data signal is received andtransmitted, and has a second pulse width which is different from thefirst pulse width in an pause section where a data signal is notreceived.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an image forming apparatusincludes a main body having a main controller which is configured tocontrol an operation of the image forming apparatus, a consumable unitconfigured to be mounted on the main body to operable to communicatewith the main controller, and a CRUM unit configured to storeinformation on the consumable unit, wherein the main controller isconfigured to transmit a clock signal where a high value and a low valuerepeatedly alternate in a predetermined pattern in an pause sectionwhere a data signal is not received to the CRUM unit, wherein the clocksignal has a first pulse width in a data section where a data signal isreceived and transmitted, and has a second pulse width which isdifferent from the first pulse width in an pause section where a datasignal is not received.

In this case, the first pulse width of the clock signal may be greaterthan the second pulse width.

The CRUM unit may include a power extracting circuit configured to, whenthe clock signal is received during data transmission process with themain controller, extract power from the clock signal and store theextracted power in a capacitive element, a memory, and a controllerconfigured to be activated by the extracted power, transmit/receive thedata signal according to the clock signal, and manage the memoryaccording to the transmitted/received data signal.

The CRUM unit may further include a data terminal configured totransmit/receive the data signal from the main controller, a clockterminal configured to receive the clock signal which is transmittedfrom the main controller, and a ground terminal.

The controller, when it is determined that the pause section is changedto the data section based on the clock signal, may transmit/receive thedata signal in the data section.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a consumable unit which ismountable and dismountable on an image forming apparatus includes afirst contact point configured to receive a clock signal from a mainbody of the image forming apparatus, a second contact point configuredto transmit/receive a data signal to/from the main body of the imageforming apparatus, a third contact point configured to be connected to aground terminal of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and aCRUM unit configured to receive the clock signal and the data signal,wherein the CRUM unit configured to extract power from a high value ofthe clock signal in an pause section in which the data signal is notreceived, wherein the clock signal has a first pulse width in a datasection where a data signal is received and transmitted and a secondpulse width which is different from the first pulse width in the pausesection in which data is not received.

The consumable unit may be a developer or a developing device.

A Customer Replacement Unit Monitor (CRUM) unit which is mountable on aconsumable unit of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplaryembodiment includes a plurality of interfaces configured to be connectedto the consumable unit, a power extracting circuit configured to, when aclock signal is received through one of the plurality of interfaces,extracts power from the clock signal, and an interface controllerconfigured to transmit/receive data through at least one of theplurality of interfaces according to the clock signal, and the clocksignal has a first pulse width in a data section where a data signal isreceived and has a second pulse width which is different from the firstpulse width in an idle section where a data signal is not received.

The interface controller, when it is determined that the idle section ischanged to the data section based on the clock signal, maytransmit/receive the data signal in the data section.

The interface controller, when a high value and a low value of the clocksignal repeatedly alternate in the idle section and a section where oneof the high value and the low value is maintained exceeds apredetermined first time, may determine that the idle section is changedto the data section, and when a high value and a low value of the clocksignal repeatedly alternate in the data section and a section where oneof the high value and the low value is maintained has the first time,may determine that the data section is changed to the idle section.

The interface controller, when a high value and a low value of the clocksignal repeatedly alternate in the idle section and a section where alow value of the clock signal is maintained exceeds a predeterminedfirst time, may determine that the time when the section exceeds thefirst time as a time when reception of the data signal starts, and whena high value and a low value of the clock signal repeatedly alternate inthe data section or the idle section and a section where a high value ofthe clock signal is maintained exceeds a predetermined second time, maydetermine that the time when the section exceeds the second time as atime when reception of the data signal ends.

The power extracting circuit may extract the power using a clock signalhaving the first pulse width and a clock signal having the second pulsewidth, and the interface controller may transmit/receive the data signalcorresponding to the data section based on the clock signal.

The CRUM unit may further include a memory and a controller configuredto be activated by the power and manage the memory according the datasignal which is transmitted/received to/from the interface controller.

The interface controller, the memory, and the controller may consist ofat least one Integrated Chip (IC).

The power extracting circuit may include a diode configured to pass aclock signal having a high value out of the clock signal and a capacitorconfigured to be recharged by the clock signal which is passed from thediode.

The power extracting circuit may include a switching element configuredto be connected to the interface and pass a clock signal having the highvalue by performing a switching operation according to the clock signalwhich is received through the interface and a capacitor configured to berecharged by the clock signal which is passed from the switchingelement.

The plurality of interfaces may include a first interface configured toreceive the clock signal from a clock terminal provided on theconsumable unit, a second interface configured to transmit/receive thedata signal to/from a data terminal provided on the consumable unit, anda third interface configured to be connected to a ground terminalprovided on the consumable unit.

The plurality of interfaces may include a first interface configured toreceive the clock signal from a clock terminal provided on theconsumable unit, a second interface configured to transmit/receive thedata signal to/from a data terminal provided on the consumable unit, athird interface configured to be connected to a power terminal providedon the consumable unit, and a fourth interface configured to beconnected to a ground terminal provided on the consumable unit, and thethird interface may maintain an inactive state.

The plurality of interfaces may include a first interface configured toreceive the clock signal from a clock terminal provided on theconsumable unit, a second interface configured to transmit/receive thedata signal to/from a first data terminal provided on the consumableunit, a third interface configured to transmit a data signal to theimage forming apparatus through a second data terminal provided on theconsumable unit, and a fourth interface configured to be connected to aground terminal provided on the consumable unit.

The clock signal may have a clock wave form where a high value sectionand a low value section having the second pulse width repeatedlyalternate in the idle section, and a size of the clock signal in thehigh value section may exceed ‘0’.

The clock signal may have a clock wave form where a high value sectionand a low value section having the second pulse width repeatedlyalternate in the idle section, and a size of the clock signal in the lowvalue section may be smaller than the high value.

An image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includesa main body configured to have a main controller which controls anoperation of the image forming apparatus, a consumable unit configuredto be mounted on the main body to enable communication with the maincontroller, and a CRUM unit configured to be provided on the consumableunit, and the main controller transmits a clock signal where a highvalue and a low value repeatedly alternate in a predetermined pattern inan idle section where a data signal is not received to the CRUM unitthrough the consumable unit, and the clock signal has a first pulsewidth in a data section where the data signal is received and a secondpulse width which is a different from the first pulse width in the idlesection.

The consumable unit may include a data terminal configured totransmit/receive the data signal to/from the main controller, a clockterminal configured to receive the clock signal which is transmittedfrom the main controller, and a ground terminal.

The CRUM unit may include a first interface configured totransmit/receive the data signal to/from the data terminal, a secondinterface configured to receive the clock signal from the clockterminal, a power extracting circuit configured to, when the clocksignal is received through the first interface, extract power from theclock signal, an interface controller configured to transmit/receive thedata signal through at least one of the plurality of interfacesaccording to the clock signal, a memory, and a controller configured tobe activated by the power and manage the memory according to the datasignal which is transmitted/received to/from the interface controller.

The interface controller, when it is determined that the idle section ischanged to the data section based on the clock signal, maytransmit/receive the data signal in the data section.

The interface controller, when a high value and a low value of the clocksignal repeatedly alternate in the idle section and a section where oneof the high value and the low value is maintained exceeds apredetermined first time, may determine that the idle section is changedto the data section, and when a high value and a low value of the clocksignal repeatedly alternate in the data section and a section where oneof the high value and the low value is maintained has the first time,may determine that the data section is changed to the idle section.

The consumable unit may further include a power terminal, the CRUM unitmay further include a third interface which is connected to the powerterminal, and the third interface may maintain an inactive state at alltimes.

The consumable unit may further include an additional data terminal, andthe CRUM unit may further include a third interface configured totransmit a data signal to the main controller through the additionaldata terminal.

A CRUM unit which is mountable on a consumable unit of an image formingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a plurality ofinterfaces configured to be connected to the consumable unit, a powerextracting circuit configured to, when a clock signal is receivedthrough one of the plurality of interfaces, extracts power from theclock signal, and an interface controller configured to transmit/receivea data signal through at least one of the plurality of interfacesaccording to the clock signal, and the clock signal is a signal where ahigh value and a first low value repeatedly alternate in a data sectionwhere a data signal is received, and one of a high value and a secondlow value is maintained in an idle section where the data signal is notreceived, and the second low value exceeds ‘0’ and less than the highvalue.

The clock signal may be a signal where the high value and the first lowvalue repeatedly alternate according to a predetermined first time inthe data section, and one of the high value and the second low value maybe maintained for a time which is longer than the first time in the idlesection.

The interface controller, when it is determined that the idle section ischanged to the data section based on the clock signal, maytransmit/receive the data signal in the data section.

The interface controller, when high value of the clock signal ismaintained and changed to the first low value in the idle section, maydetermine that a point of time when the high value is changed to thefirst low value as a point of time when reception of the data signalstarts, and when a section where the high value of the clock signal ismaintained exceeds the first time in the data section or the idlesection, may determine the time as a point of time when reception of thedata signal ends.

The interface controller, when one of a high value and a second lowvalue of the clock signal is maintained longer than a first time in theidle section and the high value and the first low value have the firsttime, may determine that the idle section is changed to the datasection, and when a high value and a first low value of the clock signalrepeatedly alternate in the data section and a section where one of thehigh value and the second low value is maintained exceeds the firsttime, may determine that the data section is changed to the idlesection.

The plurality of interfaces may include a first interface configured toreceive the clock signal from a clock terminal provided on theconsumable unit, a second interface configured to transmit/receive thedata signal from a data terminal provided on the consumable unit, and athird interface configured to be connected to a ground terminal providedon the consumable unit.

The first low value may be the same as the second low value.

The first low value may be ‘0’.

A consumable unit which is mountable on an image forming apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment includes a first contact pointconfigured to receive a clock signal from a main body of the imageforming apparatus, a second contact point configured to transmit/receivea data signal to/from a main body of the image forming apparatus, athird contact point configured to be connected to a ground terminal of amain body of the image forming apparatus, and a CRUM unit configured toreceive the clock signal and the data signal, and the CRUM unit extractsand uses power from the clock signal in an idle section where the datasignal is not received, and the clock signal has a first pulse width ina data section where a data signal is received and a second pulse widthwhich is different from the first pulse width in an idle section wheredata is not received.

A consumable unit which is mountable on an image forming apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment includes a first contact pointconfigured to receive a clock signal from a main body of the imageforming apparatus, a second contact point configured to transmit/receivea data signal to/from a main body of the image forming apparatus, athird contact point configured to be connected to a ground terminal of amain body of the image forming apparatus, and a CRUM unit configured toreceive the clock signal and the data signal, and the CRUM unit extractsand uses power from the clock signal in an idle section where the datasignal is not received, the clock signal is a signal where a high valueand a low value repeatedly alternate in a data section where the datasignal is received and one of the high value and the low value ismaintained in the idle section, and the low value exceeds ‘0’ and lessthan the high value.

The invention extends to a method of extracting power from a clocksignal in a Customer Replacement Unit Monitor, CRUM, unit which ismountable on a consumable unit of an image forming apparatus, the methodcomprising extracting and using power from the clock signal in an idlesection in which a data signal is not received as described above.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects of the present inventive concept will bemore apparent by describing certain exemplary embodiments of the presentinventive concept with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of an image formingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a view illustrating a one side of a consumable unitillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a view illustrating another example of a consumable unit anda CRUM unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views provided to explain a connection method betweenan image forming apparatus and a consumable unit;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of an image formingapparatus according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a one side of the consumable unitillustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a CRUM unitaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8A is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a CRUM unitaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8B is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a CRUM unitaccording to still another exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are circuit diagrams illustrating a power extractingcircuit of the CRUM unit illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a CRUM unitaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a CRUM unitaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 12A is a view provided to explain various signal transmissionsections between the main body and the CRUM unit;

FIG. 12B is a view provided to explain various examples of a datasignal, a clock signal and a wave form according to a decoding signal;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart provided to explain a power extracting method ofa CRUM unit according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart provided to explain a power extracting method ofa CRUM unit according to another exemplary embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

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Mode for the Invention

It should be observed the method steps and system components have beenrepresented by conventional symbols in the figure, showing only specificdetails which are relevant for an understanding of the presentdisclosure. Further, details may be readily apparent to personordinarily skilled in the art may not have been disclosed. In thepresent disclosure, relational terms such as first and second, and thelike, may be used to distinguish one entity from another entity, withoutnecessarily implying any actual relationship or order between suchentities.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of an image formingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. According to FIG. 1, animage forming apparatus includes a main body 100, a main controller 110and a consumable unit 200 which can be mounted on the main body 100.Herein, the image forming apparatus can be realized as various types ofapparatuses which may form an image on various types of recording medialike paper, such as a printer, a scanner, a Multi-Function Printer(MFP), a facsimile, a copier, etc.

The main controller 110 is mounted on the main body 100 of an imageforming apparatus, and controls overall functions of the image formingapparatus. The main controller 110 may generate a data signal and aclock signal to communicate with the CRUM unit 210. Here, the datasignal is a signal to receive and transmit data between the CRUM unit210 and the main controller 110, and the clock signal is a signal todetermine whether the data signal is received or transmitted in the CRUMunit 210. In this exemplary embodiment, so that power is extracted fromthe CRUM unit through the clock signal, the clock signal of which a highvalue and a low value repeatedly alternate not only in the data sectionbut in the pause section as well is generated, and is transmitted to theCRUM unit 210. This will be further detailed with reference to FIGS. 12Aand 12B.

The consumable unit 200 is mounted on the main body 100 of an imageforming apparatus, and may be one of various types of unit which involvean image forming job directly or indirectly. For example, a laser imageforming apparatus may include a consumable unit such as a charging unit,an exposure unit, a developer unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit,various rollers, a belt, an OPC drum, etc., and other various types ofunit which require replacement such as a developer (for example, adeveloper cartridge or a toner cartridge) in the process of using animage forming apparatus may be defined as the consumable unit 200.

As described above, there is a life expectancy for each consumable unit200. Accordingly, in the consumable unit 200, a CRUM unit 210 may bemounted or dismounted so that each consumable unit 200 may be replacedin time.

The CRUM unit 210 is an element which is mounted on the consumable unit200 and records various information. The CRUM unit 210 may consist ofonly one chip or may consist of various elements which are integrated ona board. In this exemplary embodiment, it is described that the CRUMunit 210 is provided on the consumable unit 200, and is mounted to themain body through the consumable unit, but in embodiment, the CRUM unit210 may be directly mounted to the main body 100 of the image formingapparatus. That is, the CRUM unit may be sold separately from theconsumable unit and be replaced by directly mounting to the main body.This will be described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 2B.

The CRUM unit 210 includes a memory. Accordingly, the CRUM unit 210 maybe referred to as various names such as a memory, a CRUM unit memory,etc., but it will be referred to as the CRUM unit 210 in thisspecification for convenience of explanation.

A memory provided on the CRUM unit 210 may store various propertiesinformation regarding the consumable unit 200, the CRUM unit 210 itself,the image forming apparatus, etc., and use information or a program forperforming an image forming job.

Specifically, various programs which are stored in the CRUM unit 210 mayinclude not only a general application but also an Operating System(O/S) program, an encryption program, etc. In addition, the propertiesinformation may include information regarding a manufacturer of theconsumable unit 200, information regarding a manufacturer of the imageforming apparatus, the name of mountable image forming apparatus,information regarding a manufacturing date, a serial number, a modelname, an electronic signature information, an encryption key, anencryption key index, etc. Further, the use information may includeinformation regarding how many papers have been printed so far, how manypapers can be further printed, how much toner is left, and lifeinformation of a visual receptor which is a main component. Informationof life of the visual receptor and transfer roller may be the visualreceptor and the rotation number of the transfer roller, etc. The imageforming apparatus, by comparing predetermined data with theabovementioned life information through an experiment, may additionallycontrol voltage/current which is supplied to each component of the imageforming apparatus, and a high quality printout may be generated. Theproperties information may also be referred to as intrinsic information.

For example, the CRUM unit 210 may include information as shown in thebelow table.

TABLE 1 General Information OS VersionSPL-C CLP300_V1.30.12.35VersionEngine 02-22-20075.24 VersionUSB Serial 06-28-20066.01.00(55)NumberSet BH45BAIP914466 ModelService Start Date B.DOM2007-09-29 OptionRAM SizeEEPROM SizeUSB 32 Mbytes4096 bytes Connected (High) ConsumablesLife Total Page CountFuser Life 774/93 Pages(Color/mono) Transfer RollerLifeTray1 1636 Pages864 Roller LifeTotal Image Pages867 Pages3251CountImaging Unit/ Images61 Images/19 Deve Roller Life- Pages3251Images14/9/14/19 Transfer Belt LifeToner Images(C/M/Y/K) Image CountToner Information Toner Remains 99%/91%/92%/100% PercentToner Average(C/M/Y/K)5%/53%/31%/3% Coverage (C/M/Y/K) Consumables Information CyanTonerMagenta SAMSUNG(DOM) TonerYellow SAMSUNG(DOM) TonerBlackSAMSUNG(DOM) TonerImaging unit SAMSUNG(DOM) SAMSUNG(DOM) Color MenuCustom Color Manual Adjust (CMYK : 0,0,0,0) Setup Menu Power SaveAuto 20MinutesOnPlain ContinueAltitude Adj.

As shown in the above table, the memory of the CRUM unit 210 may includenot only brief information regarding the consumable unit 200 but alsoinformation regarding the life of consumables, information, a setupmenu, etc. In addition, the memory may also store an O/S which isprovided separately from the main body of the image forming apparatus inorder to be used in the CRUM unit 210.

In addition, the CRUM unit 210 may further include a CPU (not shown)which manages a memory, executes various programs stored in the memory,and performs communication with the main body of the image formingapparatus or controllers of other apparatuses.

Meanwhile, if the consumable unit 200 including the CRUM unit 210 ismounted on the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus, Eachterminal 221, 222, 223 of the CRUM unit 210 communicates with the maincontroller 110 through each terminal 121, 122, 123 of the main body 100of the image forming apparatus.

The main body 100 of the image forming apparatus includes threeterminals 121, 122, 123, each respectively connected by cables 131, 132,133 are connected to the main controller 110.

In addition, the CRUM unit 210 also includes three terminals 221, 222,223 which are inter-connected to the three terminals 121, 122, 123included in the main body 100. As the three terminals 221, 222, 223included in the CRUM unit 210 are connected to the CRUM unit 210, theCRUM unit 210 communicates with the main controller 110 through thethree terminals 221, 222, 223 included in the CRUM unit 210. Hereinbelow, it has been described that the body 100 and the CRUM unit 210 areconnected with each other with three terminals, but during embodiment,they may be connected with four terminals, and in this case, oneterminal of the CRUM unit 210 may be a dummy terminal.

The clock terminal 221 of the CRUM unit 210 may be connected to a clockterminal 121 included in the main body 100 of the image formingapparatus and may receive a clock signal. In addition, the data terminal222 of the CRUM unit 210 may be connected to a data terminal 122included in the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus and maytransmit/receive a data signal. The ground terminal 223 of the CRUM unit210 is connected to a ground terminal 123 included in the main body 100of the image forming apparatus. Meanwhile, when a clock signal isreceived through the clock terminal 221, the CRUM unit 210 extractspower from the clock signal. That is, when the clock signal has a highvalue, a capacitive element (for example, a capacity) may be charged toprepare power. Details of power extracting operation will be describedwith reference to FIG. 9.

The method of extracting power may be realized in various ways accordingto the wave form of clock signal. In addition, the wave form of clocksignal may vary depending on a data section where a data signal isreceived and transmitted and an pause section where a data signal is notreceived and transmitted.

According to the first exemplary embodiment, a clock signal may have aclock wave form where a high value and a low value repeatedly alternatein a predetermined pattern in an pause section.

That is, a clock signal may maintain a clock wave form even in a pausesection. In this case, a clock signal in a data section may have a firstpulse width, and a clock signal in a pause section may have a secondpulse width which is different from the first pulse width. Herein, it ispreferred that the first pulse width may be set to be greater than thesecond pulse width.

In addition, a frequency of a clock signal in the data section (that is,a first clock frequency) may be different from a frequency of a clocksignal in the pause section (that is, a second clock frequency).Meanwhile, if a duty ratio is the same and a frequency of a clock signalin the data section is different from a frequency of a clock signal in apause section, the first pulse width in the data section may bedifferent from the second pulse width in the pause section.

In this case, it is assumed that the duty ratio between the first clockfrequency and the second clock frequency is the same, but duringembodiment, the duty ratio in the data section and the duty ratio in thepause section may be different, and the duty ratio in the same datasection may be different from each other within a predetermined range.To be specific, time to maintain a high value and a low value of theclock signal having the second pulse width may be different in a rangewhich is smaller than the first time (reference time used to determinewhether section is a data section or a pause section). The time tomaintain a high value and a low value of the clock signal having thefirst pulse width may be different in a range which is greater than thefirst time.

Specifically, a high value and a low value of a clock signal repeatedlyalternate by a predetermined first time unit in the pause section, and ahigh value and a low value of a clock signal repeatedly alternate by apredetermined second time unit which is set to be longer than the firsttime unit in the data section. Herein, the high value may be 2V to 4V.The low value may exceed ‘0’, but smaller than the high value. The lowvalue may be ‘0’.

According to the above exemplary embodiment, a clock signal includes ahigh value in the pause section and the data section and thus, the CRUMunit 210 may extract power from the high value of a clock signal in thepause section and the data section and operates accordingly. Inparticular, as the high value and the low value of a clock signalrepeats by the first clock cycle in the pause section, power may beextracted from the high value repeatedly and drive the CRUM unit 210continuously without any pause in the supply of power. In the relatedart 12C communication scheme, in the pause section between data anddata, a clock signal maintains a low value and a capacitive element isdischarged and IC malfunctions for some operations of software, or dueto power drop, reset occurs, and temporarily stored data andauthentication data are lost. Therefore, access needs to be done fromthe beginning, and therefore, operations of the image forming apparatusmay be delayed. Frequent resetting causes problems such as damage to theCRUM unit, and thus, there is a difficulty in applying the art to chargea capacity with a clock signal and use it as power.

In addition, when power is extracted from a data signal, a continued lowvalue may be maintained, and thus, the abovementioned problem may occur.

The CRUM unit 210 according to the above-described exemplary embodimentsmay be activated by the power extracted from the pause section and thedata section. In addition, the CRUM unit 210 may transmit/receive a datasignal according to a clock signal in the data section, and may manage amemory according to the data signal.

As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment, the CRUM unit210 may be activated without a power terminal, by extracting power froma clock signal which the CRUM unit 210 receives through the clockterminal 221.

In addition, the CRUM unit 210 does not have to include an interface inorder to be connected with a power terminal and thus, the cost of theCRUM unit 210 may be reduced as the size of the CRUM unit 210 and thenumber of interface is reduced. In addition, a power terminal is notprovided, and thus, a circuit to control a power terminal is necessary,and circuit structure is simplified.

FIG. 2A is a view illustrating a one side of a consumable unitillustrated in FIG. 1.

According to FIG. 2A, the consumable unit 220 may include a terminalunit 220 for communication with the main controller 110 which isprovided on an image forming apparatus, and The terminal unit mayconsist a part of the CRUM unit 210. The terminal unit 220 may includethe clock terminal 221, the data terminal 222 and the ground terminal223 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The clock terminal 221, the data terminal 222 and the ground terminal223 are a contact type, and they are connected electrically to the threeterminals 121, 122, 123 provided on the main body 100 of the imageforming apparatus in contact with one another.

FIG. 2B is a view illustrating another example of the consumable unitand the CRUM unit illustrated in FIG. 1.

According to FIG. 2B, the CRUM unit 210 may be separated from theconsumable unit 200. Accordingly, the CRUM unit 210 may be directlyconnected to the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus.Specifically, each terminal 221, 222, and 223 of the CRUM unit 210 maybe in contact with the terminals 121, 122, 123 of the main body 100.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views provided to explain a connection method betweenan image forming apparatus and a consumable unit.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a connection state between the consumableunit 200 which is realized in a contact type and the main body 100 of animage forming apparatus. According to FIG. 3, the main body 100 of theimage forming apparatus includes a terminal unit 120, a main board 140where various parts including the main controller 110 are disposed, anda connection cable 130 for connecting the main board 140 with theterminal unit 120.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the consumable unit 200 is mounted on themain body 100, the terminal unit 220 included in the consumable unit 200is connected electrically with the terminal unit 210 of the main body100 as they are in contact with each other naturally. In this case, theterminal unit 220 may be considered a part of the configurations of theCRUM unit 210.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of external configuration ofthe terminal unit 220 which is realized in a connector type. Accordingto FIG. 4, the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus includes theterminal unit 120 in a port type where a connector may be inserted. Theterminal unit 120 includes three terminals 121, 122, 123.

The CRUM unit 210 may include the clock terminal 221 in a connectortype. The clock terminal 221 is inserted to the clock terminal 221provided on the terminal unit 120.

In addition, albeit not illustrated in the drawing, the consumable unit200 further includes the data terminal 222 and the ground terminal 223which are in a connector type, and they are inserted to the dataterminal 122 and the ground terminal 123 which are provided on theterminal unit 120, respectively. Here, the data terminal 222 and theground terminal 223 may be considered as a part of the constitution ofthe CRUM unit 210.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of an image formingapparatus according to another exemplary embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the main body 100 and the CRUM unit 210 of the image formingapparatus include three terminals 121, 122, 123, 221, 222, 223,respectively, but the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus andthe CRUM unit 210 may further include a power terminal. That is, themain body 100 of the image forming apparatus and the CRUM unit 210 mayinclude four terminals, respectively.

According to FIG. 5, an image forming apparatus includes a main body300, a main controller 310 which is provided on the main body 300 and aconsumable unit 400 which can be mounted on the main body 300.

As shown in FIG. 5, if the consumable unit 400 including the CRUM unit410 is mounted on the main body 300 of the image forming apparatus, theCRUM unit 410 communicates with the main controller 310 through theconsumable unit 400.

The main controller 310 may electrically connect to the CRUM unit 410through four terminals 321, 322, 323, 324 provided on the main body 100and cables 331, 332, 333, 334 which are connected to each terminal 321,322, 323.

In addition, the CRUM unit 410 includes four terminals 421, 422, 423,424 which are in contact with four terminals 321, 322, 323, 324 of themain body 300.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the four terminals 321, 322, 323,324 included in the main body 300 may be a clock terminal, a dataterminal, a power terminal, and a ground terminal, respectively.Likewise, the four terminals 421, 422, 423, 424 included in the CRUMunit 410 may also be a clock terminal, a data terminal, a powerterminal, and a ground terminal, respectively.

Meanwhile, the clock terminal 421 of the CRUM unit 410 may be connectedto the clock terminal 321 included in the main body 300 of the imageforming apparatus and may receive a clock signal. In addition, the dataterminal 422 of the CRUM unit 410 may be connected to the data terminal322 included in the main body 300 and may transmit/receive a datasignal. The power terminal 423 of the CRUM unit 410 may be connected tothe power terminal 223 included in the main body 300, and the groundterminal 424 of the CRUM unit 410 may be connected to the groundterminal 224 included in the main body 300.

The power terminal 323 included in the main body 300 of the imageforming apparatus is always maintained in an inactive state. That is,the power terminal 323 is not a terminal for supplying power.

In an image forming apparatus which is standardized with four terminals,the consumable unit 200 and the CRUM unit 210 illustrated in FIG. 1cannot be used. Accordingly, the main body 310 of the image formingapparatus may be configured to include four terminals to conform to thestandard of the image forming apparatus while the power terminal 323 isconfigured to be turned off electrically. That is, the power terminal323 may be composed of a dummy terminal.

In addition, the CRUM unit 410 may be standardized with four terminalsto correspond to the image forming apparatus. Accordingly, the CRUM unit410 may also include four terminals 421, 422, 423, 424.

Meanwhile, the CRUM unit 410 may include a plurality of interfaces (notshown) to be connected to the four terminals 421, 422, 423, 424 includedin the consumable unit 400. One of the plurality of interfaces may beconnected to the power terminal 423 included in the consumable unit 400.However, this interface may be maintained in an inactive state as it isturned off electrically with respect to the CRUM unit 410.

As the main body 300 of the image forming apparatus and the CRUM unit410 according to an exemplary embodiment include power terminals 323,423 which are maintained in an inactive state, they do not provide orreceive power through the power terminals 323, 423. Accordingly, powerconsumption of the image forming apparatus may be reduced.

Meanwhile, it is general that an image forming apparatus and aconsumable unit which are currently commercialized include fourterminals of a clock terminal, a data terminal, a power terminal, and aground terminal, respectively. Therefore, if only a protocol which isrelated to a clock signal stored in the main controller of an imageforming apparatus currently commercialized is changed or updated, theCRUM 410 according to an exemplary embodiment may be mounted and used.Accordingly, the existing CRUM unit may be compatible with the CRUM unit410.

Meanwhile, according to another exemplary embodiment, the four terminals321, 322, 323, 324 included in the main body 300 of the image formingapparatus may be a clock terminal, a first data terminal, a second dataterminal, and a ground terminal, respectively. Likewise, the fourterminals 421, 422, 423, 424 included in the CRUM unit 410 may also be aclock terminal, a first data terminal, a second data terminal, and aground terminal, respectively.

The clock terminal 421 of the CRUM unit 410 may be connected to theclock terminal 321 included in the main body 300 of the image formingapparatus and may receive a clock signal. In addition, the first dataterminal 422 of the CRUM unit 410 may be connected to the first dataterminal 322 included in the main body 300 of the image formingapparatus and may transmit/receive a data signal. The second dataterminal 423 of the CRUM unit 410 may be connected to the second dataterminal 223 included in the main body 300 of the image formingapparatus, and the ground terminal 424 of the CRUM unit 410 may beconnected to the ground terminal 424 included in the main body 300 ofthe image forming apparatus.

The main body 300 of the image forming apparatus and the consumable unit400 include two data terminals 222, 223 and 422, 423, respectively, andthus, may transmit and the main controller 310 and the CRUM unit 410 maytransmit and receive a data signal through the data terminals 222, 422,and 223, 423 which are in connection with each other.

Specifically, when the main controller 310 transmits and receives a datasignal to the CRUM unit 410, the main controller 310 may transmit thedata signal through the first data terminal 322. According to such anoperation, the CRUM unit 410 may transmit/receive the data signalthrough the first data terminal 422 which is connected to the first dataterminal 322.

On the other hand, when the CRUM unit 410 transmits a data signal to themain controller 310, the CRUM unit 410 may transmit the data signalthrough the second data terminal 423. According to such an operation,the main controller 310 may transmit/receive the data signal through thesecond data terminal 323 which is connected to the second data terminal423.

Meanwhile, in the above-described exemplary embodiments, when a clocksignal is received through the clock terminal 421, the CRUM unit 410extracts power from the clock signal. That is, when the clock signal hasa high value, a capacitor may be charged to supply power. The method ofsampling power may be realized in various ways as described above withreference to FIG. 1.

Therefore, whether a power terminal is included or not included in themain body 200 of the image forming apparatus and the consumable unit400, the CRUM unit 210 may extract and activate power from a clocksignal.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a one side of the consumable unitillustrated in FIG. 5.

According to FIG. 6, the consumable unit 400 includes a terminal unit420 for communication with the main controller 310 which is provided inan image forming apparatus.

In order to be connected with the four terminals 321, 322, 323, 324included in the main body 300 of the image forming apparatus, theterminal unit 420 may include four terminals 421, 422, 423, 424.

That is, the terminal unit 420 may further include another terminal 423in addition to the clock terminal 421, the data terminal 422 and theclock terminal 424, and this additional terminal 423 may be a powerterminal or an additional data terminal depending on exemplaryembodiments.

The above four terminals 421, 422, 423, 424 are a connect type, and theyare electrically connected to the four terminals 421, 422, 423, 424 ofthe main body 300 of the image forming apparatus in contact with eachother.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a CRUM unitaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to FIG. 7, the CRUM unit 210 includes a power extractingcircuit 214, a controller 215, a memory 216, and a plurality ofterminals 221, 222, 223. Herein, the controller 215 and the memory 216may be configured as one Integrated Circuit (IC).

The plurality of terminals 221, 222, 223 are connected to the pluralityof contact points 121, 122, and 123. To be specific, the plurality ofterminals 221, 222, and 223 may be the clock terminal 221, the dataterminal 222 and the ground terminal 223.

The clock terminal 221 may be electrically and physically connected tothe clock terminal 121 of the main body 100.

The data terminal 222 may be electrically and physically connected tothe data terminal 121 of the main body. And, the ground terminal 223 maybe electrically and physically connected with the ground terminal 123 ofthe main body. Meanwhile, it has been illustrated that a plurality ofterminals 221, 222, 223 are composed of three, but in an embodiment, theterminals may be composed of four. An example of four terminals will beexplained in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

The power extracting circuit 214, when a clock signal is receivedthrough the clock terminal 221, extracts power from the clock signal.The clock signal may have a different wave form according to a sectionof a data signal which is received/transmitted through the data terminal222 of the main body, and may be realized in various forms. Detailedtypes and operations of the clock signal will be described withreference to FIGS. 12A and 12B.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the clock signal may have a firstpulse width in the data section where a data signal is received andtransmitted, and may have a second pulse width which is different fromthe first pulse width in the pause section where a data signal is notreceived and transmitted. In this case, it is desirable that the firstpulse width is greater than the second pulse width. Here, the firstpulse width may be one of a width of a high value or a width of a lowvalue.

In addition, the cycle of a clock signal in the data section may bedifferent from the frequency of a clock signal in the pause section.Specifically, a clock signal may have a wave form in which a high valueand a low value repeatedly alternate by a predetermined first time unitin the pause section, and a high value and a low value repeatedlyalternate by a predetermined second time unit which is set to be longerthan the first time unit in the data section.

If a clock signal according to the above exemplary embodiment isreceived, the power extracting circuit 214 may extract power from thehigh value in the pause section and the data section. Herein, the highvalue may be 2V to 4V. In addition, the low value may exceed ‘0’, butsmaller than the high value. Alternatively, the low value may be ‘0’.

The controller 215 is activated by the power which is extracted by thepower extracting circuit 214. The controller 215 may transmit andreceive data through the data terminal 222 according to a clock signal.

The controller 215 may determine timing of receiving/transmitting andending a data signal based on a clock signal. To be specific, in normaltimes, the CRUM unit 210 and the image forming apparatus may beconnected in a stand-by mode, but for transmitting/receiving data, theyneed to be activated. To do this, the clock signal may include a signalsection to notify the CRUM unit 210 timing that receiving of a datasignal begins.

If a high value and a low value of the clock signal repeatedly alternatein the pause section, and the section where one of the high value andthe low value is maintained exceeds the first time, the controller 215may determined the point of time of exceeding the first time (A of FIG.12A) as the timing that data reception/transmission starts.

In addition, when the transmission/reception of a data signal betweenthe CRUM unit 210 and the image forming apparatus is completed, the CRUMunit 210 and the image forming apparatus need to end the active stateand be connected in the stand-by state. Accordingly, the clock signalmay include a signal section to inform the CRUM unit 210 of the point oftime when the reception of the data signal ends.

If a high value and a low value of a clock signal repeatedly alternateby the second time unit in the data section, and a section where thehigh value of the clock signal is maintained exceeds the second time,the controller 215 may determine that the point of time when the secondtime exceeds may be the time when the reception of a data signal ends.

Alternatively, if a high value and a low value of a clock signalrepeatedly alternate by the first time unit in the pause section, and asection where the high value of the clock signal is maintained exceedsthe second time, the controller 215 may determine that the point of timewhen the second time exceeds (D″ of FIG. 12B) may be the time when thereception of a data signal ends.

Meanwhile, between the point of time when reception/transmission of adata signal starts and the point of time when reception/transmission ofa data signal ends may be defined as a total data section, and this mayinclude a pause section during data reception/transmission (the firstpause section (BC) in FIG. 12B).

The controller 215, when a clock signal is received through the clockterminal 221, may check the clock signal and determine when the pausesection is changed to the data section, or when the data section ischanged to the pause section.

To be specific, when the clock signal is received, the controller 215may determine that the pause section is changed to the data section ifone of the high value and the second low value of the clock signal ismaintained longer than the first time in the pause section and the highvalue and the first low value has the first time.

The controller 215 may determine that the data section is changed to thepause section if the high value and the first low value of the clocksignal repeatedly alternate in the data section and a section where oneof the high value and the second low value has the first time.

When it is determined that the pause section is changed to the datasection, the controller 215 may receive/transmit a data signal which isreceived/transmitted during the data section through the data terminal222.

The controller 215 may manage the memory 216 according to thereceived/transmitted data signal. That is, the controller 215 may storea data signal in the memory 216, read the data stored in the memory 216,and transmit the data signal to the image forming apparatus.

As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment, the CRUM unit210 may operate without any separate power terminal by extracting powerfrom a clock signal which is received through the clock terminal 221. Assuch, the CRUM unit 210 does not have to include an terminal forconnecting with a power terminal and thus, the size of the CRUM unit 210and the number of interface may be reduced.

When describing FIG. 7, it is described that the CRUM unit includes onlyone controller and one memory, but during embodiment, the CRUM unit maybe composed of one IC. This will be explained with reference to FIG. 8A.Hereinabove, it has been explained that the CRUM unit is composed of onecontroller, but during embodiment, the CRUM unit includes a plurality ofcontrollers, and form the CRUM unit. This will be described withreference to FIG. 8B.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a CRUM unitaccording to another exemplary embodiment.

According to FIG. 8, the CRUM unit 210′ according to the secondexemplary embodiment includes the power extracting circuit 214, thecontrol IC 218, and the plurality of terminals 221, 222, 223.

The plurality of terminals 221, 222, 223 are connected to the pluralityof contact points 121, 122, and 123. To be specific, the plurality ofterminals 221, 222, and 223 may be the clock terminal 221, the dataterminal 222 and the ground terminal 223.

The clock terminal 221 may be electrically and physically connected tothe clock terminal 121 of the main body 100

The data terminal 222 may be electrically and physically connected tothe data terminal 121 of the main body. And, the ground terminal 223 maybe electrically and physically connected with the ground terminal 123 ofthe main body. Meanwhile, it has been illustrated that a plurality ofterminals 221, 222, 223 are composed of three, but in embodiment, theterminals may be composed of four. An example of four terminals will beexplained in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

The power extracting circuit 214 is connected to the clock terminal 221,and when a clock signal is received through the clock terminal 221,extracts power from the clock signal. The clock signal may have adifferent wave form according to a section of a data signal which isreceived through the data terminal 222, and may be realized in variousforms.

For example, the clock signal according to the exemplary embodiment mayhave the first pulse width in the data section where the data signal isreceived and transmitted, and have the second pulse width which isdifferent from the first pulse width in the pause section where the datais not received and transmitted. In this case, it is desirable that thefirst pulse width is greater than the second pulse width.

In addition, the frequency of a clock signal in the data section may bedifferent from the frequency of a clock signal in the pause section.Specifically, a clock signal may have a wave form in which a high valueand a low value repeatedly alternate by a predetermined first time unitin the pause section, and a high value and a low value repeatedlyalternate by a predetermined second time unit which is set to be longerthan the first time unit in the data section.

If a clock signal according to the first exemplary embodiment isreceived, the power extracting circuit 214 may extract power from thehigh value in the pause section and the data section. Herein, the highvalue may be 2V to 4V. In addition, the low value may exceed ‘0’, butsmaller than the high value. Alternatively, the low value may be ‘0’.

The control IC 218 is activated by the power which is extracted by thepower extracting circuit 214. The control IC 218 transmit and receivedata through at least one of the first to the third terminal 221, 222,223 according to a clock signal.

First of all, when a clock signal is received through the clock terminal221, the control IC 218 checks the clock signal and determine a point oftime when a data section is changed to an pause section or a point oftime when the pause section to the data section.

Specifically, when a clock signal according to the first exemplaryembodiment is received, the control IC 218 determines that the pausesection is changed to the data section if a high value and a low valueof the clock signal repeatedly alternate in the pause section, and thesection where one of the high value and the low value is maintainedexceeds the first time.

In addition, when a clock signal according to the first exemplaryembodiment is received, the control IC 218 determines that the datasection is changed to the pause section if a high value and a low valuerepeatedly alternate in the data section, and the section where one ofthe high value and the low value has the first time.

If it is determined that the pause section is changed to the datasection, the control IC 218 may receive a data signal which is receivedand transmitted during the data section through the data terminal 222.In this data section, a predetermined data signal may be transmittedfrom the CRUM unit to the image forming apparatus.

The control IC 218 may store or read data in an internal memory areaaccording to received/transmitted data signal.

As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment, the CRUM unit210′ may operate without any separate power terminal by extracting powerfrom a clock signal which is received through the clock terminal 221. Assuch, the CRUM unit 210′ does not have to include an terminal forconnecting with a power terminal and thus, the size of the CRUM unit210′ and the number of terminal may be reduced.

FIG. 8B is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a CRUM unitaccording to another exemplary embodiment. According to FIG. 8B, theCRUM unit 210″ includes the first to the third terminals 221, 222, 223,the power extracting circuit 214, an interface controller 217, thecontroller 215′, and the memory 216.

The plurality of terminals 221, 222, 223 are connected to the pluralityof contact points 121, 122, and 123. To be specific, the plurality ofterminals 221, 222, and 223 may be the clock terminal 221, the dataterminal 222 and the ground terminal 223.

The clock terminal 221 may be electrically and physically connected tothe clock terminal 121 of the main body 100.

The data terminal 222 may be electrically and physically connected tothe data terminal 121 of the main body. And, the ground terminal 223 maybe electrically and physically connected with the ground terminal 123 ofthe main body. Meanwhile, it has been illustrated that a plurality ofterminals 221, 222, 223 are composed of three, but in embodiment, theterminals may be composed of four. An example of four terminals will beexplained in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

The power extracting circuit 214, when a clock signal is receivedthrough the clock terminal 221, extracts power from the clock signal.The clock signal may have a different wave form according to a sectionof a data signal which is received/transmitted through the data terminal222 of the main body, and may be realized in various forms.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the clock signal may have a firstpulse width in the data section where a data signal is received andtransmitted, and may have a second pulse width which is different fromthe first pulse width in the pause section where a data signal is notreceived and transmitted. In this case, it is desirable that the firstpulse width is greater than the second pulse width.

In addition, the frequency of a clock signal in the data section may bedifferent from the frequency of a clock signal in the pause section.Specifically, a clock signal may have a wave form in which a high valueand a low value repeatedly alternate by a predetermined first time unitin the pause section, and a high value and a low value repeatedlyalternate by a predetermined second time unit which is set to be longerthan the first time unit in the data section.

If a clock signal according to the above exemplary embodiment isreceived, the power extracting circuit 214 may extract power from thehigh value in the pause section and the data section. Herein, the highvalue may be 2V to 4V. In addition, the low value may exceed ‘0’, butsmaller than the high value. Alternatively, the low value may be ‘0’.

The interface controller 217 is activated by the power which isextracted by the power extracting circuit 214. The interface controller217 may transmit and receive data through at least one of the first tothird terminals 221, 222, 223 according to a clock signal.

To be specific, when the clock signal is received through the clockterminal 221, the interface controller 217 may determine the point oftime when the pause section is changed to the data section or the datasection is changed to the pause section.

Specifically, the interface controller 217, when a high value and a lowvalue of a clock signal repeatedly alternate in the pause section, and asection where one of a high value and a low value is maintained exceedsthe first time, determines that the pause section is changed to the datasection.

The interface controller 217, when a high value and a low value of aclock signal repeatedly alternate in the data section, and a sectionwhere one of a high value and a low value is maintained has the firsttime, determines that the data section is changed to the pause section.

If it is assumed that the pause section is changed to the data section,the interface controller 217 may receive a data signal which is receivedduring the data section through the data terminal 222. In this datasection, a predetermined data signal may be transmitted/received to/fromthe image forming apparatus from the CRUM unit 210.

Meanwhile, the controller 215′ is activated by power and manage thememory 216 according to a data signal which is received/transmitted fromthe interface controller 217. That is, the controller 215′ may store thedata signal received from the interface controller 217 to the memory216, read the data stored in the memory 216, and receive/transmit thedata signal to the image forming apparatus.

FIGS. 9A-9B are circuit maps illustrating a power extracting circuit ofthe CRUM unit illustrated in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the power extracting unit 214 may be disposedbetween the clock terminal 221 and the controller 215. The powerextracting circuit 214 may extract power from the clock signal providedby the clock terminal 221.

To be specific, the power extracting circuit 214 may include a diode 214a and a capacitive element 214 b.

The diode 214 a provides voltage more than a predetermined power, fromamong the clock signal provided by the clock terminal 221, to thecapacitive element 214 b.

The capacitive element 214 b is charged using power provided by thediode 214 a, and provides the charged power to each configuration in theCRUM unit 210. Here, the capacitive element 214 b may be an element suchas a capacitor and a battery which may charge power from outside.

Meanwhile, it has been described that the power extracting circuit isconstructed using diode and the capacitive element, but forimplementation, another type is available. Another exemplary embodimentwill be explained with reference to FIG. 9B.

Referring to FIG. 9B, the power extracting circuit 214 is composed of aswitching element and a capacitive element.

The switching element include a field effect transistor 214 c and tworesistors 214 d. The switching element receives a clock signal from theclock terminal 221. The switching element may pass a clock signal havinga high value by switching on/off according to the clock signal.

The capacitive element 214 e may be charged by the clock signal which ispassed from the switching element.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a CRUM unitaccording to another exemplary embodiment.

According to FIG. 10, the CRUM unit 410 includes a plurality ofterminals 421, 422, 423, 424, a power extracting circuit 415, acontroller 416, and a memory 417. Here, the controller 416 and thememory 417 may be composed of one integrated circuit (IC).

Connection between the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 andthe CRUM unit 410 may be specified with four terminals. Therefore, theCRUM unit 410 may include four terminals 421, 422, 423, 424 for beingconnected with four terminals 411, 412, 413, 414 in the main body.

That is, according to an exemplary embodiment, the CRUM unit 410extracts power from a clock signal and thus, does not need to receivepower through the power terminal 423. However, as described above withreference to FIG. 5, the power terminal 423 which is connected to thepower terminal 423 of the main body may be provided in the CRUM unit 410to conform to the standard of the consumable unit 400 including fourterminals, but the power terminal 423 may be maintained in an inactivestate. That is, the power terminal 423 may be provided only to conformto the standard of the consumable unit 400 and thus, may not perform anyoperation with respect to the CRUM unit 410.

The power extracting circuit 415 extracts power from a clock signalwhich is received through the clock terminal 421. Herein, the clocksignal may have a different wave form according to whether it is anpause section where a data signal is not received or it is a datasection whether a data signal is received, and may be realized invarious ways.

The various exemplary embodiments of a clock signal and a clock signalaccording to the first and the second exemplary embodiments is describedand thus, further description will not be provided.

The controller 416 is activated by the power which is extracted by thepower extracting circuit 415. The controller 416 may transmit/receivedata signal with the main body 100 through the data terminal 422.

The controller 416, when it is determined that the pause section ischanged to the data section, may receive/transmit the data signalaccording to the clock signal and manage the memory 417.

In addition, the controller 416, if it is determined that the datasection is changed to the pause section, may control the powerextracting circuit 15 so that power is extracted from the clock signalin the pause section.

As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment, the CRUM unit410 includes a dummy terminal which is maintained to be in an inactivestate, and may satisfy the specification of the consumable unit 400composed of four terminals.

Meanwhile, the CRUM unit 410 may be mounted on a consumable unitconsisting of four terminals which are currently commercialized and maybe compatible with the existing CRUM unit 410.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a CRUM unitaccording to another exemplary embodiment.

According to FIG. 11, a CRUM unit 410′ includes a plurality of terminals421, 422, 423, 424, the power extracting circuit 415, the controller416′, and the memory 417.

The body 100 connected to the CRUM unit 410 may be sized to fourterminals 411, 412, 413′, 414. Therefore, the CRUM unit 410′ may includefour terminals 421, 422, 423′, 424. Here, in an exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 10B, a data signal may be transmitted/received through twoterminals. To be specific, the CRUM unit 410′ may receive/transmit thefirst data using the first data terminal 422, and transmit/receive thesecond data using the second data terminal 423′. As described above,according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 10B, a data signal isreceived and transmitted through two terminals, and thus, data trafficbetween the CRUM unit and the body may be reduced.

Meanwhile, in the above, it has been explained that each of the seconddata terminal and the third data terminal 412, 413′ receive/transmit adata signal, but is not limited thereto. For example, by selecting oneof the second data terminal and the third data terminal 412, 413′, adata signal may be transmitted/received. If size of a data signal is nothuge, a data signal may be received/transmitted by using one terminal.In addition, data may be received by using one terminal 412, and dataalso be transmitted using another terminal 413′.

Configuration of the power extracting circuit 415, the controller 416′,and the memory 417 is the same as the configuration illustrated in FIG.10, and thus overlapped explanation will not be provided.

When explaining FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, it has been described that theCRUM unit includes one controller only, but during the embodiment, theCRUM unit may be realized as a type including a plurality ofcontrollers. In addition, when realizing the invention, the controllerand the memory may be realized as one IC.

FIG. 12A is a view to explain several signal transmission sectionsbetween the body and the CRUM unit.

According to FIG. 12A, a wave map of the data signal (SDA) and the clocksignal (CLOCK) are illustrated.

The data signal (SDA) may be a signal which transmits data stored in theCRUM unit 210 to the body, or a signal which is transmitted from thebody 100 and be stored in the CRUM unit 210. The actual informationtransmission section is a section for data transmission, and the sectionwhere such information is not transmitted is an idle section.

To be specific, the body of the image forming apparatus and the CRUMunit 210 do not need to be connected all the time. Accordingly, the body100, when communication with the CRUM unit 210 is necessary, generates aclock signal and provide the signal to the CRUM unit 210. In thisregard, the above-mentioned idle section may be referred to as a sectionfor preparing data transmission. Data transmission section may bereferred to as a section for performing data transmission. Meanwhile,the above-mentioned pause section is a section between the data sectionwithin the data transmission section. As to the detailed clock wave inone data transmission section, it will be explained later with referenceto FIG. 12B.

The clock signal (CLOCK) is a signal used to determinereception/transmission of a data signal, and in an area where a datasignal is not usually received/transmitted, a clock signal is nottransmitted from the body to the CRUM unit. However, in the exemplaryembodiment, power is supplied to the CRUM unit using a clock signal, andin the section where data is not transmitted, a clock signal isgenerated and transmitted to the CRUM unit. Accordingly, not only in thepause section, but in the idle section, a clock signal having a pulsewidth which is different from the data section may be provided to theCRUM unit.

When access to the CRUM unit 210 is not necessary, for example, when animage forming apparatus enters a power saving mode or is turned off, thebody 100 may change the clock signal (CLOCK) to “0.”

FIG. 12B is a view provided to explain various examples of a datasignal, a clock signal and a wave form according to a decoding signal.

FIG. 12B is a view illustrating a data signal, a clock signal accordingto the first exemplary embodiment, and a wave form of a decoding signalwhere a clock signal is decoded.

According to FIG. 12B, a clock signal may have different clock waveforms and different pulse widths in the pause section and the datasection. Specially, the clock signal may have the a first pulse width inthe data section, and may have the second pulse width which is differentfrom the first pulse width in the idle section. In this case, it isdesirable that the first pulse width is greater than the second pulsewidth.

Meanwhile, in a first idle section, the clock signal has a wave formwhere a high value and a low value repeatedly alternate by the firsttime (t1) unit. The CRUM unit may extract power from a high value whichis received during the first time in the first idle section. In thiscase, the low value of the clock signal may be ‘0,’ and the high valueof the clock signal may be 3.3V, but not limited thereto, the low valueand the high value may vary depending upon a model or specification ofan image forming apparatus.

The data signal does not include substantial data in the first idlesection. However, in the first pause section, the data signal may have awave form having one of a high value and a low value. The wave form ofthe data signal in the first idle section may be set randomly, and maybe set in the same manner in other pause sections.

Meanwhile, when a high value and a low value of a clock signalrepeatedly alternate by the first time (t1) unit in the first idlesection and a section where the low value of the clock signal ismaintained exceeds the first time (t1), the CRUM unit may determine thatthe point of time when the first time (t1) exceeds is the time whenreception/transmission of a data signal starts (A). Herein, the timewhen reception/transmission of a data signal starts (A) may be a timewhen start of the reception of a data signal is notified by an imageforming apparatus.

At the time when reception/transmission of a data signal starts (A), thefirst idle section may be changed to a first data section. In this case,a clock signal has a wave form where a high value and a low valuerepeatedly alternate according to a second time (t2) which is set to belonger than the first time (t1).

Herein, it is desirable that the second time (t2) is two times longerthan the first time (t1), but not limited thereto. The second time (t2)may be a time when power sufficient to operate the CRUM unit for a cycleis extracted from a high value of a clock signal. When the second time(t2) is shorter than the time (t), the power of the CRUM unit is usedup, and thus, the CRUM unit cannot operate. Accordingly, the second time(t2) may be set to be equal to or longer than the time (t).

Meanwhile, when a high value and a low value of a clock signalrepeatedly alternate in the first data section and the high value of theclock signal has the first time (t1), the CRUM unit may determine thatthe point of time when the high value of the clock signal has the firsttime (t1) is a first section change time (B) when the first data sectionis changed to the first pause section.

Meanwhile, the point of time when the section is changed to the firstpause section is different from the point of time when the section ischanged to idle sections, when a high value and a low value of a clocksignal repeatedly alternate by the second time (t2) unit in the firstdata section and the high value of the clock signal has the first time(t1), the CRUM unit may recognize that a data section is connected afterthe pause section. Accordingly, the CRUM unit may maintain an activestate of a connection state with an image forming apparatus.

In the first pause section, a clock signal has a wave form where a highvalue and a low value repeatedly alternate by the first time (t1) unit.

When a high value and a low value of a clock signal repeatedly alternatein the first pause section and a section where the high value of theclock signal is maintained exceeds the first time (t1), the CRUM unitmay determine that the second data section starts at the point of timewhen the first time (t1) exceeds. Accordingly, the CRUM unit maydetermine that the point of time when the high value of the clock signalexceeds the first time (t1) is a second section change time (C).

In the second data section, a clock signal has a wave form where a highvalue and a low value repeatedly alternate by the second time (t2) unit.

In the second data section, when a high value and a low value of a clocksignal repeatedly alternate, and a high value of the clock signal hasthe first time (t1), the CRUM unit may recognize that the second pausesection may be connected after the second data section,

Therefore, the CRUM unit may recognize the point of time when a highvalue of the clock signal is the first time (t1) as the time of changingthe third section (D) which changes to the second pause section.

Meanwhile, in the second pause section which is subsequent to the seconddata section, the clock signal has a wave in which a high value and alow value repeated alternately with the first time (t1) cycle. When thetime in which a high value of the clock signal exceeds the second time(t2), the CRUM unit may recognize the time when a high value exceeds thesecond time (t2) as a time when reception of a data signal ends (D″).

Based on the timing when reception ends (D″), the CRUM unit 210 isconnected to the image forming apparatus in a stand-by mode, andreceiving operation of data signal may end. As described above, when theCRUM unit is connected to the image forming apparatus with a stand-bymode, the data signal is not received from the image forming apparatus,and thus, the section is changed to the second idle section.

In FIG. 12B, it has been described that two pause sections and two datasections are included respectively, but is not limited thereto. Whensize of data which is received and transmitted is large, the secondpause section and the second data section may be included by beingrepeated for more than three times. Or, when size of data which isreceived or transmitted is small, the second pause section and thesecond data section may not be included.

As described above, a point of time needs to be prepared with a lengthof a clock signal, and it is desirable for stable reception andtransmission of data that the time of reception/transmission isdetermined as the time in which the second time is maintained longerthan the first time, and the time exceeds the first time.

In the description above, it has been explained that a low section and ahigh section of a clock signal is the same with each other, but in apause section, to the extent that length of the low section and a highsection is not more than the first time respectively, length of the lowsection and high section may be different within a scope where length oflow section and high section is not less than the second time.

Meanwhile, the CRUM unit may decode a data signal based on a clocksignal and generate a decoding signal based on the decoding result. Thisdecoding operation may be performed by the interface controller includedin the CRUM unit.

According to FIG. 12B, when a clock signal whose high value and lowvalue are changed by the first time (t1) unit as in the first idlesection, the first pause section, and the second pause section, and thethird pause section is received, a data signal is not received. Thus,the CRUM unit generates a decoding signal to be one of “0” and “1.” Whena clock signal whose high value and low value exceed the first time (t1)as in the first data section and the second data section is received,the CRUM unit may recognize that the section is a data section.

Accordingly, in the first data section and the second data section, theCRUM unit generates a decoding signal having a wave form where “0” and“1” repeatedly alternate at each point where a high value and a lowvalue of a clock signal exceed the first time (t1).

That is, the decoding signal illustrated in FIG. 12B is maintainedconsistently as one of “0” and “1” in the first idle section, the firstpause section, and the second pause section, and the third pausesection, and has a wave form where “0” and “1” repeatedly alternateaccording to the second time (t2) in the first data section and thesecond data section.

In FIG. 12B, a low value included in a clock signal has a value of ‘0’in the data section and the pause section, but not limited thereto. Thatis, in the data section and the pause section, the low value exceeds‘0,’ and may be smaller than 3.3V that is a high value. The decodingsignal in this case may be the same as the decoding signal illustratedin FIG. 12A.

In FIG. 12B, the second pause section is connected after the second datasection, but not limited thereto. To be specific, according to softwarewhich generates a clock signal, the second idle section may be connectedafter the second data section.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart provided to explain a power extracting method ofa CRUM unit according to an exemplary embodiment. According to FIG. 13,the CRUM unit receives a clock signal having a predetermined pulse widthin the pause section (S1310), and extracts power from the clock signal(S1320).

Subsequently, when a data signal is received from the image formingapparatus (S1330), the CRUM unit receives a clock signal which has adifferent pulse width from that of the pause section in the data sectionwhere a data signal is received (S1340). In this case, the clock signalmay have the first pulse width in the data section and a second pulsewidth which is different from the first pulse width in the pausesection. It is desirable that the first pulse width of the clock signalis greater than the second pulse width.

Meanwhile, the CRUM unit extracts power form the clock signal which isreceived in the data section (S1350).

The power extracting method according to FIG. 13 extracts power from aclock signal which has a different pulse width in the pause section andin the data section, respectively, and thus, the CRUM unit may beoperated without any separate power supply.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart provided to explain a power extracting method ofa CRUM unit according to another exemplary embodiment. According to FIG.14, the CRUM unit receives a clock signal where a high value and a lowvalue repeatedly alternate by the first time unit in the pause section(S1410). Herein, the pause section may be a section where a data signalis not received/transmitted from the image forming apparatus.

The CRUM unit extracts power from a high value of a clocks signal whichis received in the pause section (S1420). For example, the high value ofthe clock signal may be 3.3V. Accordingly, while the first time wherethe high value of the clock signal is received, 3.3V power may beextracted and used as a driving power source of the CRUM unit.

Subsequently, when a data signal is received/transmitted from/to theimage forming apparatus (S1430), the CRUM unit receives a clock signalwhere a high value and a low value are repeated by the second time unitin the data section where a data signal is received (S1440).Specifically, when the data signal is received, the frequency of theclock signal may be changed in response. That is, if a high value and alow value are changed alternately by the first time unit in the pausesection, the high value and the low value of the clock signal may bechanged alternately by the second time unit in the data section. Herein,it is desirable that the second time is two times longer than the firsttime.

The CRUM unit extracts power from the high value of the clock signalwhich is received in the data section (S1450). Subsequently, if it isdetermined that the reception/transmission of the data signal iscompleted (S1460), the CRUM unit is changed to be in the pause sectionand performs the step of S1410.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the reception/transmissionof the data signal is not completed (S1460), the step of S1440 isperformed.

The power extracting method of FIG. 14 extracts power from the highvalue of the clock signal in the pause section and the data section,respectively, the CRUM unit may be operated without any separate powersupply.

The power extracting method according to the above-described variousexemplary embodiments may be coded as software and recorded in anon-transitory recordable medium. The non-transitory recordable mediummay be installed not only in an image forming apparatus, a consumableunit, a CRUM unit but also in various types of apparatuses, and theabove-described authentication method or communication method may berealized in various apparatuses accordingly.

The non-transitory recordable medium refers to a medium which may storedata semi-permanently rather than storing data for a short time such asa register, a cache, and a memory and may be readable by an apparatus.Specifically, the above-described various applications and programs maybe stored in the non-temporal recordable medium like CD, DVD, hard disk,Blu-ray disk, USB, memory card, ROM, etc. and provided therein.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention. The presentteaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, thedescription of the exemplary embodiments of the present inventiveconcept is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope ofthe claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filedconcurrently with or previous to this specification in connection withthis application and which are open to public inspection with thisspecification, and the contents of all such papers and documents areincorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including anyaccompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps ofany method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination,except combinations where at least some of such features and/or stepsare mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanyingclaims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative featuresserving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly statedotherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each featuredisclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent orsimilar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoingembodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novelcombination, of the features disclosed in this specification (includingany accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, orany novel combination, of the steps of any method or process sodisclosed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention claimed is:
 1. A Customer Replaceable Unit Monitor (CRUM)unit comprising: a power extracting circuit configured to, when a clocksignal is received from an image forming apparatus, extract power from ahigh value of the clock signal and store the extracted power in acapacitive element; and a controller configured to operate using theextracted power, wherein the clock signal has the high value and a lowvalue repeatedly alternate in a data section with a first frequency andthe high value and the low value repeatedly alternate in a pause sectionwith a second frequency which is different from the first frequency, andwherein the controller is configured to transmit a data signal if thehigh value and the low value of the clock signal repeatedly alternatewith the first frequency.
 2. The CRUM unit as claimed in claim 1,wherein the second frequency is higher than the first frequency.
 3. TheCRUM unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller, if the highvalue and the low value of the clock signal repeatedly alternate in thepause section and a section where one of the high value and the lowvalue is maintained exceeds a predetermined first time, is configured todetermine that the pause section is changed to the data section.
 4. TheCRUM unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller, if the highvalue and the low value of the clock signal repeatedly alternate in thedata section and a section where one of the high value and the low valueis maintained is smaller than or equal the predetermined first time, todetermine that the data section is changed to the pause section.
 5. TheCRUM unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller, if the highvalue and the low value of the clock signal repeatedly alternate in anidle section and a section where the low value of the clock signal ismaintained exceeds a predetermined first time, is configured to receivea data signal from the image forming apparatus.
 6. The CRUM unit asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the controller, if the high value and thelow value of the clock signal repeatedly alternate with the firstfrequency or the second frequency and a section where the high value ofthe clock signal is maintained exceeds a predetermined second time whichis longer than the predetermined first time, is configured to determinethat the data section or the pause section is changed to the idlesection.
 7. The CRUM unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controlleris configured to receive a data signal if the high value and the lowvalue of the clock signal repeatedly alternate with the first frequency.8. The CRUM unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controller isconfigured to determine that the clock signal is in the data sectionbased on a pulse width of one of the high value and the low value of theclock signal.
 9. The CRUM unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein thecontroller is configured to manage a memory according to the receiveddata signal.
 10. The CRUM unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the memoryand the controller are incorporated in a single integrated chip (IC).11. The CRUM unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein, if the high value andthe low value of the clock signal repeatedly alternate with the secondfrequency in the pause section and then the clock signal transitions tothe data section in which the high value and the low value repeatedlyalternate with the first frequency, the controller is configured todetermine that the pause section is changed to the data section andtransmit the data signal to or receive a data signal from the imageforming apparatus.
 12. The CRUM unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein, ifthe high value and the low value of the clock signal repeatedlyalternate with the second frequency and then the clock signaltransitions to the data section in which the high value and the lowvalue repeatedly alternate with the first frequency, the controller isconfigured to transmit the data signal to the image forming apparatus orreceive a data signal from the image forming apparatus.
 13. The CRUMunit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the controller is configured todetermine that the pause section is changed to the data section based ona pulse width of one of the high value and the low value of the clocksignal.
 14. The CRUM unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the powerextracting circuit further comprises: a switching element configured topass the clock signal having the high value from among the receivedclock signal, the capacitive element configured to be charged by theclock signal which is passed from the switching element, wherein theswitching element is a transistor and two resistors.
 15. The CRUM unitas claimed in claim 1, wherein the power extracting circuit furthercomprises: a diode configured to pass the clock signal having the highvalue from among the received clock signal, the capacitive elementconfigured to be charged by the clock signal which is passed from thediode.
 16. A consumable apparatus, comprising: a consumable apparatusthat is mounted on an image forming apparatus; and the CRUM unit ofclaim
 1. 17. The consumable apparatus to claim 16, the consumableapparatus is any one of a electrification device, a light exposuredevice, a developing device, a transfer device, a settlement device, aroller, a belt, and an OPC drum.